U.S. Hispanic Churches Join NHCLC and American Bible Society to Increase Biblical Engagement with September's 'Month of the Bible'
Study shows 92 percent of nation's Latino community biblically illiterate
NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) and American Bible Society are kicking off a three-year campaign to promote biblical fluency and literacy in the U.S. Hispanic community with Mes de la Biblia (Month of the Bible). With Bible illiteracy affecting 92 percent of the U.S. Latino community, the two organizations are challenging Hispanic churches and Hispanic Christians to commit to reading Scripture daily throughout September.
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"We are inviting pastors and leaders to take action in the fight against Biblical illiteracy, which threatens to destroy the principles and values on which our great nation was founded," said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of NHCLC, representing over 40,000 churches and 16 million Hispanic Evangelicals.
To provide culturally specific materials, American Bible Society and NHCLC have created online downloadable Bible literacy resources, available at no cost to churches participating in Mes de la Biblia. During the month-long campaign a pastor's packet, coordinator's manual, sermon outlines, seven-day leader's devotional, daily Bible reading planner, promotional posters and Bible bookmarks will be available in Spanish.
"Our hope is that not only will U.S. Hispanics start reading the Bible more, but that their engagement will be deeper too. The Bible brings wisdom and counsel on so many of the issues facing Hispanics today. This month is the perfect time to rediscover all that is waiting in the Bible's pages." said Rev. Dr. Emilio A. Reyes, executive director of Multi-Language Ministries, American Bible Society.
Hispanic America: Faith, Values and Priorities, a recent study published by Barna Hispanics, American Bible Society, NHCLC and OneHope, noted that while 87 percent of Latinos own a Bible, only 8 percent read it regularly or allow it to inform their worldview. Yet, the study further revealed, a large percentage of this influential demographic is open to exploring the claims of the Bible in their lives. American Bible Society and NHCLC hope to provide the necessary materials to Hispanic Americans so all have the ability to read the Bible and the motivation to pick up the world's best-selling book of all time.
The nation's largest minority group, and one of the fastest growing segments in America with a population exceeding 50 million, Latinos are impacting virtually all of American society, including many expressions of the Christian faith. Some 84 percent of Hispanics in the United States identify themselves as Christian.
For additional information, visit saborealabiblia.com.
NHCLC
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the nation's largest Christian Hispanic organization, is the Hispanic Evangelical Association unifying, serving and representing millions in the Hispanic Born Again Community via 40,118 member churches by reconciling the vertical and horizontal elements of the Christian message through the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Compassionate Evangelism, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth. For more information, visit NHCLC.org.
American Bible Society
Headquartered in Manhattan, the 197-year-old American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message. One of the nation's oldest nonprofit organizations, today's American Bible Society provides resources across a variety of platforms enabling first-time readers and seasoned theologians alike to engage with the best-selling book of all time. For more information, visit AmericanBible.org.
SOURCE National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
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